I just moved to the area and was craving shepherd's pie, so I went to this place for lunch after reading some good reviews.
They're all correct. The shepherd's pie was delicious, as was the beer (Drake's porter), and the atmosphere was hip and pleasant. On Sunday they have the normal full menu, with some additional things for brunch, like scones and fruit salad.
Street parking was pretty easy and the place is clean with friendly staff. Would definitely recommend.
Location and space:  Great.  Theory of tried and true concept:  Good.  Selection of beer and wine:  Not so good.  Helpfulness of staff:  Sucks.  Self-important, hipster,  mostly rude regulars not spending money but getting all the attention and service: Priceless (perfidy).  Could be a great place, but will never be with the trying to be cool but losing ground to places up and down Telegraph.  Will never return so long as this iteration is  the iteration.  At Cristina G:  These ain't locals, they're transients.  Later.
Review Source:I love this place. Such a plucky and cozy little joint in a funky neighborhood.
I expected the great selection of beer. It's a pub, after all. I didn't expect such good food!
We had beers - all great - and a variety of food. In retrospect, we over-ordered. I had no idea it would be so generous.
Scotch egg - actually, two in the order. I don't know why scotch eggs have suddenly become a thing, but I'll take 'em. And these were absolutely perfect.
Ploughman's platter - unexpectedly pretty and plentiful. I dug the pickles and walnuts the most.
Smoked trout salad - maybe too much lettuce, but everything else was yum (breadcrumbs, turns out, awesome on salad!).
Shepherd's Pie - super hot and tasty. Can't go wrong here.
The whole place really won me over. BUT. But. I wish there weren't televisions. I hate the tv-in-a-bar thing. I know I'm alone on that, but it effs with the ambiance for me.
staff working here are damaging their hearing, and need to file an OSHA complaint.
I'm not being frivolous: the noise, music + customers' voices reflected from hard walls, reaches the level at which damage occurs. perhaps the management is already deaf, and doesn't know.
till this is handled (couple of absorbent panels, someone with normal hearing monitoring the music) Â my serious advice is for readers of this review to stay away. even if you're young, you'll be facing hearing loss down the road.
pity: the beer's good, food not bad, positive atmosphere.
I kind of was expecting darts and Boddington's beer. Â However the CommonWealth Cafe & Pub is much more laid back than that. Â No darts, and Boddington's beer is popped open for you and poured into a mug.
I though those in and around the bar makes for a good crown and gives this neighborhood a little bit of life. Â I frequent the place whenever I'm in town. Â Â Delicious burgers fills you up right for another.
Great neighborhood cafe and pub with excellent food and super chill staff!
Yelp brought me here on my first visit during my search for a pot pie and good beer :)
This is a small-ish cafe/pub with a semi dark and intimate ambiance. For drinks: besides the craft beer and wines on tap (yes, wine on tap!), they have bloody marys, mimosas, and beer-mosas! I wish they were open later... but oh well, the bartenders need to go home too!
Check out their Facebook for their pub quiz Sundays and pop-up schedule and menu :)
A THEMATICALLY CONFLICTED SHOE-BOX - The Commonwealth Cafe & Pub is probably all it's cracked out to be with the exception of:
1. AMBIENCE: The pub's ambience is cramped, stark and visually uninviting. I would describe it as cold. Others may consider it chic, hot & hip. I don't. I just think it has a crisis of identity, and thinks (when it closes it's eyes) that it's in the heart of San Francisco, New York or somesuch metro-hub, instead of homey ol' Oakland, CA. Methinks there is something wrong, if not disorientating, about that.
2. ACOUSTICS: On the day I visited it didn't help that staff were playing music at volumes higher than the ear can handle in conversational situations ... all on Sunday morning!? Â What the heck wuz I missin'? The acoustics of this place are worse than your average Starbucks echo chamber. Note to mgmt: Think seriously about this one.
I really WANTED to like this place but just couldn't. With my comfort victuals  ordered and wifi all fired up I was spoilin' to chill, but couldn't.  All I lasted in there was about  20 minutes before calling it quits.
ON THE PLUS SIDE: My comfort food  was very well done. Tasty w/a hint of homey mojo. The cashier/server, a younger dude, was unfailingly  polite and the bathroom was spotless. But that's not enough for me to come back until the owners find more commodious appointments with divey warmth instead of ......... you guessed it, a thematically conflicted shoebox.
I have remnants of my childhood phobia of the dentist. One time my mouth was impaled by his "hygienist's" long fingernails which poked through the glove and into my precious inner cheek. I haven't trusted dentists since.
Why am I telling you my trauma in a review about an awesome pub? Well, I had a Saturday appointment recently, and had time to spare post-Parkway, so I needed a little quaff to quell my nerves. Don't tell my dentist. My guy and I strolled here, and we simultaneously declared that it was Bloody Mary time. Big, satisfying, spicy pint glasses of Bloody Mary's soon came out, and I was on my way to feeling as tranquil as possible for going to get tortured in a short amount of time. Their food offerings were incredibly tasty; I enjoyed their four dollar soup du jour, a curried split pea with bacon, and my hun had a pear and brie sandwich. Commonwealth elevates pub food more than I've ever seen a pub do, and their prices are extremely reasonable, and the portions welcoming.
I felt like I didn't get to experience Commonwealth in its full hurrah, as there were only a smattering of Saturday afternoon drinking compatriots, but I could tell that this place is just lovely. Looking forward to coming back, dentist appointment or not.
Always a great stop for beer, especially when I need to use the internet. As a teacher, this is a regular occurrence (beer + lesson planning = smarter children!) and CommonWealth is my go-to spot.
There are about ten taps here that change often, but not too often, and there's always local beer to choose from. Their cask ales are usually phenomenal (had the Linden Black today and can still taste its deliciousness in mah mouth) and reasonably priced. Food is great (sandies and some hot entrees), but will run you a solid $10 per dish (just so ya know). There's soccer on all the time (at this time of year in particular) and the lighting is perfect for working/chatting/ignoring everyone/watching a game.
Staff is great and friendly. Usually very nice fellow customers too!
This is a place I knew I'd love before I visited. A visit was on the to-do list for some time, but then they suffered the fire. Then I saw the most amazing thing that's so characteristic of Oakland's business community and nobody outside Oakland talks about it. Similar businesses helped out Commonwealth in their time of need. Remember all those fundraisers from Beer Rev, etc.?! I spend a lot of my waking life defending Oakland, even during our current uptick (by Oakland standards) in shootings, and nobody grasps how collaborative instead of competitive some businesses are here.
Therefore, I knew this was a special, loved place.
We had some spare time before a Parkway show, so we took a walk up Telegraph to grab a pint here. Now, it looks like they're not doing this on Sundays anymore, but we stepped into a little popup fundraiser with gumbo and lemon ice box pie. This joint clearly wants to give back to the community that loves it so much.
I liked how the place has the right blend of contemporary local loyalty and traditional UK practice. It's clearly a UK public house setup with the walk-up orders and the soccer, but the offerings are local. It's the perfect place to throw back too many pints of Line 51's sneaky Red Death or Linden Street's dark lagers. (By the way, it isn't long before you hit "too many" Line 51's. I learned THAT the hard way). Not into beer? They have Periscope wines.
One day I'll actually try the food that I hear is really good. But I kinda enjoy the fact that they allow local vendors in sometimes. Next time I have nothing to do on a Sunday night, I'm going in for trivia and the Fist of Flour pizza (at least the pizza if I don't have a team).
All this and the bathrooms are safe too!
Soccer is a new thing for me and I barely have time to follow the Earthquakes. Therefore, that means I won't be at CW ALL the time. Just often enough.
Food is good here. Â The chicken salad sandwich is particularly amazing. Â They have a pretty good selection of beers, specifically UK beers that you can get, but usually not all in one place. Â I enjoy the cafe-style order at the counter service. Â I order coffee here more than beer. Â The staff is always pleasant and the prices are reasonable. Â CONS: I don't know if this is a con but this place is uber-hip. Â It is also an english-style "Pub" so don't expect to see anything but European Football on the TV. Â This is fine but I am a sports fan and it would be nice to see live action football game or Sharks game on instead of Premier League ReRuns. Â But overall a great place and consistent.
Review Source:The drip coffee was really good. Â I had a great soup . The famous scone did not impress as much. It might even have been a little stale. Â The music was too loud and it was freezing in there as they kept the top section of the Dutch door open. Â Yet, I still liked the place a lot. Â The staff was really friendly. Â That 's always an extra star in my book.
Review Source:So,let get the nit-picky out of the way. The service.
We walked in and Jovanie walked up to the bar to ask if there was table service or if we ordered everything at the bar. The guy behind the counter had a few things to do before he could acknowledge Jovanie like count some money,look at some receipts, and check his smartphone before finally being able to answer the question. I wanted to walk out right then. But i was glad that i didn't because this food is so A-MAZING. We had the chicken pot pie, the shepherds pie, the brie and pear toast, and the chicken salad. Everything was really tasty. The chicken salad was good but nothing i would need to order again. The shepherds pie was decent but i am spoiled by Havens shepherds pie and cannot go backwards. But that pot pie completely lived up to the review. And then some. I completely forgot the negligible service and was completely happy. The toast was also revelatory. And the IPA we had was pretty delicious as well.The people came over regularly to clear away empty beer mugs and plates and were polite in doing so so it wasn't like they were completely clueless. I guess i didn't know what to expect even though yelpers spelled it out for me in clear block letters beforehand. If you cant handle indifference from people taking your order, then save this place for another day. If you are looking for great tasting pub food and a good selection of beers on tap and in bottle, then stop into the Commonwealth.
I really would love to give this a better review because the decor is cozy and just right for me. However, the service sucks. There is no need for attitude. OK, so you have the hipster "look" down. You shopped at all the right places, the hair style is great (even the woman with the shaved head), but you can lose the attitude. We get it, you're "cool." You're all confor...um I mean non-conformists. All I ask is crack a smile and make people who had a long work day feel at ease. Your scowl is not appreciated. Oh yeah, that extra star is for that killer tattoo- how original.
Review Source:It was sad when the place was closed because of the fire, because it's one of my two favorite in the neighborhood.
The scones with clotted cream are about the best thing this side of the Pond, for sure. Don't let the name scare you off--think thinner whipped cream and you're about on track.
They size your beer based on the alcohol content, which is sophisticated, and probably necessary. I've never drank more than a couple of beers.
A friend, new in town from England, would go here to watch "football" during the World Cup. It's crazy crowded during such times, and multiple games may be playing at once. I would recommend an early arrival if you want a seat.
I wouldn't say the staff is the friendliest, but maybe that's all part of the British pub air. Still, earns them a one star penalty from this (reluctant) American.
I bring the kid, and I'm not alone, but it's not the greatest when the place is crowded.
Meant to have lunch at Porno Bar aka Dan Sung Sa across the street, but they were closed. I guess they don't serve lunch? I ended up dragging my co-workers here, in full knowledge that we would not be able to imbibe any of the wonderful libations on tap.
The menu here is fairly limited, but you can go wrong with their staple shepherd's pie or the pot pie. Although each is $10, they are more than enough to satisfy your lunch cravings. The pot pie is covered with a flaky pastry crust. If you are looking for your pie to have sides and a bottom, this is not your pie. The filling was actually filled to the top of the ramekin, and was chock full of chicken and vegetables, with no filler like heavy cream. It's actually a decent amount of food for the money, even though it didn't appear to be.
I'd like to come back after hours or on a Sunday and tip back a few pints. The vibe here is definitely Oakland hipster. There is metered parking on 29th and free two hour parking on 28th. Seating is limited, but we had no problems for a Wednesday at 1:00PM.
I've been going to Commonwealth more often these days to watch the European Championships... I really like this place...
Food: Breakfast sandwich is good... I love HP sauce, and not that many places serve it. Beans are good (the bread you get with it is really good) The Ham sandwich I had (the one with the onion marmalade) was really good
Coffee: I'm not a big coffee fan, but they were all good: Mocha, Gibraltar and Latte
Beer: The one downside is they don't start serving beer until 10 (this is only a problem for soccer games that start at 8:45... there's something nice about having a beer in your hand watching a game... but life could be worse i guess)
Service: Everyone there is cool... very relaxed atmosphere (and they turn the sound on for the games!!! YAY!!!)
I'll be back many times even after the games are over!
Oakland has warmed my heart with is chill ease and warm welcome. The people are just so chill....its great! Â Commomwealth Cafe exudes this completely.
The food is great and the service is fast. There is no better place to watch a soccer game - that's for sure. Grab a seat and a Beermosa and you're set for a kick ass time.
This place reminds me of what Beckett's (in Berkeley) was like before it was woefully dismantled and turned into the bizarre nightclub-meets-pub atmosphere that is Bec's. Â Being that I was on a first name basis with several of the bartenders, bussers and bouncers at Beckett's, you can safely assume that's a compliment.
The atmosphere is very relaxed.  As mentioned in previous reviews, it has a very typical pub feel, what with the dark wood and the fantastic beer selection.  The food is also notably good; on return from a trip my partner and I snagged the cheese plate here, and from the cheeses to the pickled sides, it was delectable (particularly the pâté!  mmm!). Â
My only complaints:
On the weekends, it can get pretty loud in this small space (usually due to music playing over their system), and make it IMPOSSIBLE to speak to anyone. Â If you're in the mood for screaming, sure--this may be your weekend spot.
The neighborhood is sketchy. Â Last year, I was violently mugged two blocks away from this joint. Â Watch yourself.
Lastly, they close way early.
Otherwise, though, it's a great spot for catching an after work, low-key beer, or for sitting there during the day and having a drink while you type away at whatever work you have to do on your computer*.
*Pft, who am I kidding? Â No one works at cafes; they just refresh their Facebook feed.
I was to meet a friend here for brunch. I'd never been to the pub before so I actually didn't know it was a pub. Luckily the menu is not the usual pub fare. I chose to have the wild mushroom frittata. It was paired with the house Bloody Mary.
Seating is an issue because of the size of the pub. Get there early or be resigned to sit at the bar. :-)
What an interesting little place.
Is it a pub? Is it a cafe? Oh, you're telling me I can drink a beer while cramming for my next final? Don't mind if I do...
This is a ridiculously adorable place filled with attractive boys, good beer, and delicious food. I came with a friend who frequents the place and I had a good time. There were a mix of people, from girls studying on their laptops to a family with their two children. And then us. Whatever we are.
Everything is fairly priced, and my sandwich was tasty. I also had a jar of pickles because well... you know me.
I'll definitely come back to try the Shepards pie.
At some point we'll be sad that no rain fell this year. Â As we take dust baths in dry puddles, like dirty thirsty little sparrows.
But for the time being ...
I'm good with 70 degree February days. Â They make it easier to ply the avenue by foot.
This morning as I walked downtown I saw from a distance the spot I paused with CH for the repast last night. Â The spot where my cockles were warmed by the Guinness beef stew and the chicken pot pie with buttery crust as if its dough had been kneaded by the small hands of God's angels in heaven. Â A pint in the back room that could have been many places North Sea, watching soccer.
This morning as I walked downtown I was able to notice by just slowing my cadence a smidge that Commonwealth is across the street from the Korean Presbyterian church and next door to Africa Imports and Zion Ethiopian.  I won't use the contemporary word that's overused in this sentence because it's overused and simple, I'll just say that I do groove on the ethnic mash-up that is Oakland.  Commonwealth's url is <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cmonoakland.com&s=c983ac642fdd5d9ae9ee93f9cfdc0ee41f95b6be15feb90e061be59e59ba4fcf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.cmonoakland.c…</a>.  Ain't that the truth. Â
Prescient in its cyber address, perfection in three dimensions. Â Commonwealth will be my shelter from the North Sea storm, even if it's 70 degrees out.
Go, my dusty little sparrow, and get your Guinness on.
This mac 'n' cheese is legit, my friends. We got some bacon, mushrooms and leeks mixed all up in there and I can happily report that was one of the better decisions I've made in my life.
The rest of the menu is full of equally awesome edibles like shepherd's pie and fresh salads, and the special that night was steak stew. All of these things inspired excited commentary from the lady sitting next to us at the bar, including lots of use of the word AMAZING (which of course only reminds me of that awesome bit by Louis CK) but she's not wrong... stuff is good.
Somehow Commonwealth has a racket on all of the indie-beautiful kids in town. I swear, they're all here, drinking cider and stout and watching futbol. No wait, it's soccer. No need to pretend like I'm all cultured and shit.
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